New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-12
4" MET ny CHANCE

The an ouncement OF a new comedy by Mr.. Bronson
Howard called together n and fashionable
audience In the Lyceum Theatre last night This bcauti
fu and popular house indeed hled in every part
| Mr Howaris comedy Is entitled Met by Chance -
and some account OF plot has already been furnished
To the readers this journal II neatly. superby
set prettily acted and well and kindly received.
Its story neither substantial fresh An impostor
pretending 10 be English nobleman and such In
graatng hniselfinto social confidence aud almost into
amatory acceptation. Is figure upon the stage
MIRA Mowatt offered 1t In tho prehistoric comedy Of
Fashion" aud in many different vestures its familiar
| image has long walked before the Nghts
In "Met by Chance" this scamp almost
succeeds In winning the affections and the hand OF
m American girl before IL unnasked and discomhed
by the real nobleman whose identity he has borrowed
Mr. Howard however, seems. this occasion. not TO
have contemplated strength OF plot but rather Ia have
expended his effort variety OF incident. the analyst
| OF sentiment tho display OF rustic pictures. the
delicate tracery OF language. and the thousand
little nothings that make up the life
OF girlhood Ia It's sentimental period. There
Is nothing his story and there not much in his
ner OF telling It. To show In what way character will
develop press itself under the operation OF love
and amid the Of the purpose of
this comedy. II has been accomplished with the ambing
dexterity OF long used to dealing with the
lighter phases OF feminine character and the
eyanescent tribes OF juvenile feminine life
u III
especially proficient and into which the observer follows
him trepidationn at all No other dramatist
this period has shown an equal zeal and capacity for
gathering up the small talk of young women. What Mr..
w. d. Howells IL to tho novel Mr. Bronson Howard is to
the dranand IN this the latest production OF his talent
he has been content simply TO reproduce those stores OF
tinscl and patitude.
Met by Chance Is not play, but a series OF colo
Quics IL contains no character either man or woman
the slightest interest any being. II scarcely
all IL contains only one striking incident-hc
the cliff. In tho rst act OLD lady praitles
about her husband, aud three inSipid young girls
meet wv inslpd young In act second two OF the
young girls. having lost their way IN the Adirondack
wilderness, come into tho camp OF the Two young
and this consists OF extremely pretty rustic c0mpo
sltion. little playful stage business In act third
these two couples nd themselves To be lovers talk an in
Unite deal nothing and parted by the arrival
friends but AT the climax OF this act the true lord and the
false one being confronted there Is spoken word or two
shot by the latter III this Act furthermore The storm
clouds the the thunder Is heard
10 roll nd rumble among the mounts the lightning
IS seen To flash, ana rain of actual water Is
TALL These sights which arc not new and which
would not he important II they were, appeared
spre the behoding public with astonshment aud rap
tre The and last act OF the comedy SHIFTS 10 rv
ngion on the Hudson. brings the parted comrades OF the
camp together. explains lnsundeistindinss
punisheS Tl',hy anu ratHar rnsy maprs to
he offered In tho likeness OF play II the composition
WAS Invested stage sets which have been provided
for it's embeshment. IL would not last uness
perhaps 1t might satisfy what passes for mental appe
fite I'm pcrsOns yapd those OF the comedy ITSELF
ought added thai ono true note Touched lii the CHAR
acter OF laio,d Lord Gaytor, This gentleman seeking
for a woman who, for the sake or money aud utle VIII
not give her hand where sho does not give her heart
finds himself he thinks cruelty di.apponied OUT nti
puIcly he led TO discriminate between tue operation
of feminine caprice ana the action Of honest love IN true
woans heart No exceptional talent was eyinced IN the
acting OF this p.oe The cheerful vitality OF Miss Heen
Dnuvrny and the characteristics kihdness and latent
humor of Mr.. SOthern invested the camp scenes
with nm air adventure and Of conrdeshp Ar. Save
paI ed "A rascal neatly anu with discretion. Mr.. j. W.
biyntt gny. clever sketch OF the young American who
apss British dress and manuers Mr. Whiting delivered
homily lie In tho woods Ar Goatcher and Mr. Cos
man ware called in their nno Adirondack scene and
tho author was houo,ed with "A similar tribute.
Miss Georgia Cayvan has been engaged by Mr.. Bouci-
oaut To play leading part In his now American play
which no Intends produce in Boston on February a.
and which afterward probably will DO performed In
New-York. This choice Is good one for Miss Cayvan is